Bionic No More

A little over a year ago I had the pleasure of having a "spare part" placed in my chest. This little device, known generically as a mediport, provided an entry location for chemotherapy to be injected into my veins. When it was placed in me I declared myself "the bionic man" in this very blog sight. The port was a great help in that it saved my veins form the onslaught of needles that were to follow and allowed Ethel (my favorite) to be a part of my life for a week at a time without monopolizing my arm. Unfortunately, it has also provided a reminder to me on a daily basis (every morning) that I have been a cancer victim and patient. While it remains in me I need to go back to the chemo clinic and have the port flushed out monthly so as to avoid infections from it. A monthly reminder of the clinic, the chemo experience, and another needle stick. The positive of the monthly clinic visits are the hugs and greetings I get from the nursing staff there, so I guess its not all bad!

As I am no longer a full fledged patient, but rather a recovering survivor (and it feels really good to say that!) I decided a while back that the "spare part" needs to be removed. I'll admit that losing the bionic man tag will be a blow to my ego, but its a blow that I'm willing to live with!


I e-mailed Dr. S (my chemo oncologists) to get the process started and to get a referral. Naturally nothing comes without debate in this cancer world. Dr. S wrote back that she recommended the port to stay in a year after radiation is completed in case of a (dare I say) recurrence. I responded that I would prefer to have it out and that it could be placed back in if a recurrence were to befall me (which according to Emily and my beliefs it won't...the Beast has been evicted). Dr. S has sent the referral.


So I am now scheduled to become a mere mortal with the removal of my bionic part on Aug 6. It will be an outpatient surgery and looks to be a great deal of fun. Finally, the last vestige of chemo days removed. No more daily reminders and monthly needle sticks. Yippee!


Have a good one all, and remember ... Life Is Good.

The Jig

Mary Pettibone Poole is credited with saying (back in 1938), and I quote, " He who laughs, lasts." What a great saying!

So a few weeks ago I took a road trip with Dave-o to visit TJ & Joan in Chicago. We also were able to get together with another old college pal and roommate, Jorge. Joan had a bunch of things planned including a Cubbies game, a visit tho the Chicago Art Festival, a party at her sister's home (Kathy & Dave), and then a trip to the Chicago Blues festival. A perfect weekend! The only thing I had to promise to Joan was to perform my Cancer Free Jig. Naturally, I made the promise!

I think a little explanation is due here! The Cancer Free Jig, or CFJ as it is uncommonly known to most, is a jig that I witnessed on my 1st day of radiation treatment (oh so long ago). As I was about to go into my first of many zaps, a lady was coming out of the lab with a certificate in hand. As soon as she made it through the door, she broke out into a spontaneous dance and declared it her CFJ. I was quite taken with it. It made quite the impression on me and when I told Joan about it she said that I was going to have to perform one too. She also said that she was going to have to see it. So, I agreed. Thus, the CFG promise made for the Chi-town Road Trip.

The trip went almost as planned. TJ, Dave-o, & I went to the Cubbies game with a stop at the Sears Tower (how touristy of us). The tower was great, the Cubs game was a blast (Cubs lost though) and the three of us laughed a bunch!

The next day we went to the art festival with Joan's sister & bro-in-law (Kathy & Dave), Jorge came along, and a bunch of other folks too. It made for a wonderful afternoon. And we laughed a bunch!

This was followed by the party at Kathy & Dave's place (a tradition for the apres art fest times as I understand it). As the night went on, we laughed a bunch. The party was a blast, people were fantastically nice. And we laughed a bunch more!

During the party, I promised to dance my CFJ, as long as I didn't dance alone. So there were a few volunteers that joined in. Here are the pictures to prove it.

And we laughed more!!!

Unfortunately, sometime after the jig was completed, I ended up falling down the stairs at Kathy & Dave's place. No need for long explanations here, suffice it to say that good times were had by all and we laughed a bunch. Joan's other sister Carol helped to break my fall a little (thanks Carol), but the net result was a nasty soreness on my left side.

The next day it took me about 20 minutes to work my way out of bed, literally. So it was off to the Emergency Room with Joan, TJ & Dave-o where we ran into a doctor with a great sense of humor. Unfortunately, it really hurt to laugh. Thus, I believe that the doctor, TJ, & Dave-o took it as a personal challenge to keep me guffawing. And we laughed a bunch!

After a few x-rays (Joan accompanying me all the way as she always seems to do), confirmation came in as to why I hurt when I laughed. I was the proud owner of 2 broken ribs on my left side. OUCH!! (should you have the opportunity to experience this, do yourself a favor and pass it by) This curtailed the laughter a bit, but not completely! There were some good snickers that ensued that were at my expense, naturally.

Unfortunately, the broken ribs put a damper on our trip to the blues festival, but I was still able to spend some great times with the the gang, and Jorge caught up to us too. And we laughed a bunch (even if it hurt a bit).

Well, the trip was much needed even if the price was a soreness in my rib area that reminded me of my post surgical pain. However, the stories that have propagated from the weekend has provided a great deal of laughs. And in those immortal words of Mary Pettibone Poole, "He who laughs, lasts" I plan to keep dancing, laugh a bunch more, and last a long time! Watch me live!

Life is good!

PS: Sorry it's taken so long since the last posting. I hope all is well with you all.